Hoekstra downplays effect of tariffs and worries of trade war with Canada

WGVU News | By Russell McNamara

Published May 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM EDT

The U.S. ambassador to Canada thinks there will be a full re-working of the trade agreement between the U.S. and Canada within the next couple years

Former Congressman and ex-chair of the Michigan GOP Pete Hoekstra was confirmed to the ambassador ship in early April.

In an interview with Detroit Public Radio, he says the economy is strong and that worries about tariffs and a trade war with Canada are overblown.

“They're not going to have a dramatic impact, okay, okay, they will have an impact, okay, but it's not fundamentally going to change. You know, this relationship.”

Hoekstra also dismissed concerns about President Trump’s desire to make Canada the 51^st state calling the threat a “sign of affection.”